Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women

In this episode of Black Women Save Black Women, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with a reflection on burnout, control, and why peace comes from focusing on what's actually yours to hold. She's joined by entrepreneur and coach Samantha Cook, who shares the moment she was fired from Microsoft and how that rupture became the catalyst for launching Inside the Cubicle Career Coaching and Consulting. Together they get candid about rest as resistance, naming job loss without shame and the practical first steps that keep you afloat while you rebuild. The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: Elevate—raise awareness of your limits and honor rest as mandatory.

Samantha Cook is a University of Washington alumna and five‑star career coach who spent over a decade leading upskilling and performance programs at Amazon and Microsoft. In March 2025 she was fired — and within 30 days launched Inside the Cubicle Career Coaching and Consulting, securing a University of Washington partnership within 60 days. An AI optimization specialist who worked on Microsoft Copilot agents and named one of Seattle's Top 15 Career Coaches, Samantha helps clients navigate layoffs, negotiate six‑figure offers, and turn setbacks into setups.

Connect with Samantha Cook:

TikTok: @insidethecubicle

LinkedIn: Samantha Cook, M.A.

Website: https://www.insidethecubicle.com/

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You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

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Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

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In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E Black Women, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with a reflection on fear, control, and why peace comes from focusing on what's actually yours to hold. She's joined by entrepreneur and designer Cira Wright-Childress of GoGo Lush for a candid conversation about moving through uncertainty, taking imperfect action and building a business that gives you time and freedom, not just revenue.

Together, they unpack how to acknowledge fear without letting it stop you, why the best move is often to do it scared and how imperfect action accelerates learning. Cira shares how being an early adopter of platforms like TikTok and live shopping helped scale her brand, why content is a numbers game and how an MLM background taught resilience. Kamika closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: Validate your experience so fear becomes data, not a verdict.

Cira Wright‑Childress is the founder and designer of GoGo Lush, a jewelry brand she launched in 2011 to build a business that reflects her vision of success as a young Black woman. After starting in corporate at 22 and seeing a lack of representation, Cira turned a childhood passion for jewelry into a global design practice focused on joy, craftsmanship and economic independence.

www.gogolush.com

Instagram-@gogolush

www.tiktok.com/stillcici

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You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika Dillard opens the Fail Forward File with a reflection on control and what happens when you try to manage outcomes, timing, and other people's opinions, and why peace only comes from focusing on what's actually yours to hold. She's joined by Brittany Dandy, Senior Integrated Producer and founder of Ode to Us Wellness, for a grounded conversation about navigating layoffs, negotiating severance, and protecting your self‑worth during career transitions. Together, they unpack what preparation really looks like: from financial readiness and multiple income streams to motherhood planning and building stability without panic. Kamika closes the episode with the S.A.V.E. Strategy, flipping the S from Support to Simplify. When life feels overwhelming, the work is to simplify your focus, energy, and expectations—asking Is this mine to control? Brittany Dandy is a Senior Integrated Producer and founder of Ode to Us Wellness, a femtech company focused on improving the perinatal experience for Black women and women of color. Her work sits at the intersection of storytelling, wellness, and culture while using media and design to reimagine care, visibility, and support. Instagram handle: @odetouswellness Instagram @brittanycdandy Instagram

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You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard...

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In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika opens this week's Fail Forward File with a reflection on impatience, burnout, and what happens when Black women push past their limits instead of listening to their bodies.

Kamika is joined in the sanctuary by Tanisha 'Coach T' Stewart, who shares how a near‑death experience during COVID reshaped her relationship with health, faith, and purpose. This ultimately lead to her to exit from corporate life into fitness and community‑centered wellness. Together, they explore what our bodies are trying to tell us, why health is often the first thing sacrificed during career transitions, and how to prioritize yourself with intention instead of pressure. The conversation also makes space for perimenopause and menopause, simple wellness habits that actually stick, and treating your body like your most valuable asset and not an afterthought.

The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: Elevate—a reminder that choosing your health, honoring your limits, and slowing down is not falling behind. It's leadership.

Tanisha "Coach T" Stewart is the owner of Kid Fit LLC, Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist, NASM Personal Trainer, and the creator of Pray. Shed. Win! Coach T is passionate about helping women over 40 transform their bodies and lives while also teaching nearly 650 kids as a PE Specialist. She's been a featured presenter at state conferences, nominated multiple times for Teacher of the Year, and brings unmatched energy to every stage she steps on.

Connect with Coach T:

www.IAmKidFit.com

LinkedIn: @Tanisha (Coach T) Stewart

FB: https://www.facebook.com/KidFitLLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidfitllc/

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Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories.

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with a hard truth about her own journey. Dorsena Koonce joins Kamika in the sanctuary. An Emmy‑nominated storyteller and certified personal trainer, Dora opens up about being laid off and the multiple fears that have followed. As the conversation unfolds, the interview turns into a coaching moment, with Kamika helping Dora name the fear underneath her hesitation and perfectionism. The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: A flip of E from Elevate to Eliminate: a call to eliminate habits, beliefs, and patterns that quietly sabotage your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Dora Koonce is an Emmy-nominated storyteller, certified personal trainer, and communications pro based in Cleveland. After more than a decade in broadcast journalism and earning her Master's in Public Health, she's blended media, movement, and mindset into her work helping people live stronger, more intentional lives. She's the founder of DK Personal Training and the creator of "Leaders Who Train," a social series that spotlights community builders who take care of their bodies as much as their mission.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorsena_drake/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorsena_drake

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorsena-koonce-75098a118/

Website - https://www.trainwithdora.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579535488852

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

What happens when your federal job disappears and you have to rebuild your finances from scratch? In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika explores boundaries, burnout, and the real path from a federal career to financial freedom with Jodi‑Kaye Wade. She opens the Fail Forward File with a reflection on what it costs when you ignore your own limits and why boundaries only work when you enforce them. Together, Kamika and Jodi- Kayre unpack what it looks like to rebuild after job loss, navigate pregnancy and postpartum recovery, and create financial stability on new terms by covering multiple income streams, credit repair, and pursuing homeownership with clarity instead of fear.The episode closes with the S.A.V.E. Strategy, centering the V on Vitality: a reminder that rest, energy protection, and holistic well‑being are not rewards, but requirements.

Jodi-Kaye Wade is a financial coach, mortgage loan officer, and Founder & CEO of Reliance Financial Solutions, where she helps clients repair credit, become mortgage-ready, and build generational wealth with intention—especially those who've been told "no" before. A licensed Mortgage Loan Officer serving DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida, she specializes in guiding first-time homebuyers, investors, and busy professionals through the loan process with clarity and strategy. With over a decade of experience leading global economic development initiatives across Africa, Jodi-Kaye brings a justice-centered, practical approach to money, homeownership, and financial power.

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reliancefinancialsolutions/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578204946399

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reliancefinancialsolutions/?viewAsMember=true

Websites:

https://reliancefinancialsolution.getcredithelpnow.com/start#inputform

https://umafi.com/jodi/

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Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories.

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You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika Dillard opens this week's Fail Forward File with a real conversation about feedback and what happens when you receive too much of it, from too many directions, all at once. Kamika is joined in the sanctuary by Alyceson‑Grace Eke, also known as The ECON Queen, and midway through their discussion, Kamika's Natasha Wig that she is wearing seems to activate her coaching powers. What follows is less of a traditional interview and more of a real‑time coaching moment rooted in clarity, honesty, and care. Alyceson‑Grace shares her journey after being laid off from what she believed was her dream role, choosing rest, faith, and obedience over rushing back into familiarity. She opens up about building The ECON Queen, navigating slow seasons in business and trusting God's timing. The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: Support: a reminder that entrepreneurship is not a solo act. Alyceson‑Grace Eke, also known as The ECON Queen, is an educator committed to expanding access to academic and financial education across all ages and life stages. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Business Economics, she brings excellence, clarity, and intention to every space she serves. Socials: https://www.econqueen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/econ_queen https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyceson-grace-eke/

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You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with an analogous reflection on Mount Everest and the truth that reaching the summit means knowing when to slow down, ask for help, or take a different route.

She's joined in the sanctuary by Pamela Nanton, a fashion industry veteran and 20‑year breast cancer survivor, who shares how she made peace with taking a few steps down in title and level to secure her next opportunity while still honoring her long‑term vision and pursuing her entrepreneurial work. Pamela talks candidly about layoffs, relocation, and choosing sustainability over ego in a cutthroat industry.

The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy flips the A to Accountability: a reminder that accountability is the rope that keeps us connected on the climb, especially when the path forward requires humility, honesty, and trust.

Pamela Nanton is a fashion industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, first inspired by her mother's love of sewing while growing up in Dallas, Texas. A 20‑year breast cancer survivor, Pamela carries a perspective shaped by resilience and a simple truth she lives by: don't sweat the small stuff. Her journey has taken her across the country, through seasons of healing, creativity, and partnership. She and her husband have been married for 12 years and have shared both life and work along the way.

Socials/ Business Handles:

https://replyfashion.com/

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Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika Dillard opens the Fail Forward File by naming an outdated work ethic she built earlier in life that no longer serves her in this season. She reflects on the danger of half‑ass doing life while expecting million‑dollar results and the responsibility that comes with wanting more without honoring the work, rest, and intention required to sustain it. Kamika is joined by Chimere Brown, who shares her experience navigating six layoffs across tech and pharma, including the road trip she took after her most recent one to rest, reflect, and reconnect with herself. Chimere opens up about the emotional toll of repeated disruption, the importance of movement and community, and how this season led her to launch Crossroads + Callings: a podcast rooted in testimony, transition, and reminding people they are not alone on the other side of loss. The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: Elevate: an invitation to level up how you care for yourself, not through hustle or status, but through intention, nourishment, and choosing yourself first. Chimere Brown, MBA, PMP, is a seasoned leader with over 13 years of experience driving digital transformation, AI integration, and operational excellence across technology and pharmaceuticals. She has led strategic initiatives for companies including Salesforce, CareerBuilder, and Biogen, blending executional rigor with thoughtful leadership. Chimere is also the host of the Crossroads + Callings Podcast, where she explores stories of pivot, purpose, and navigating life's major transitions. Her work is rooted in service, with ongoing volunteer leadership through organizations like Chicago Scholars and Project SYNCERE. Social Media Handles: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crxrdscallings/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crxrdscallings Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crossroads-callings/id1850980460 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CrxrdsCallings Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/cdkh25hm Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4P5ixczpgpcjZIPDCwu403 Overcast: https://overcast.fm/p5455647-1mqB7P Substack: https://crxrdscallings.substack.com/subscribe?params=%5Bobject%20Object%5D

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You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika Dillard opens the Fail Forward File by naming a familiar trap: overextending, ignoring boundaries, and mistaking someone else's urgency for her own. She reflects on slowing down, honoring rest, and treating winter as a season for intentional movement instead of constant productivity.

Joined by Dr. Aja King, the conversation in the sanctuary dives into corporate burnout for Black women, especially in predominantly white workplaces. Dr. King challenges the myth of working twice as hard for equality and unpacks how overwork, layoffs, and productivity culture disconnect Black women from their worth. Together, they explore how to cope with job loss, reclaim rest, build community, and protect creativity—whether you're navigating a layoff or still employed.

The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy, flipping the E from Elevate to Enforce: a reminder to enforce your boundaries, honor rest, and move at your own pace.

Dr. Aja King is a licensed professional clinical counselor and founder of Brave Defiance Consulting. She helps high-performing professionals who are burned out and lonely reconnect with themselves and others without abandoning their ambition. She's also the creator of Lioness Den of Self-Love, a Skool community focused on rest, emotional honesty, and healing beyond survival mode.

https://www.brave-defiance.online/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.ajaking/

Subscribe to Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women on YouTube and Instagram.

Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories.

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard